I decided, for my own sanity and because I apparently get a sick sense of satisfaction from making to-do lists and then crossing things off them, I'm going to do a quick "6 in 60" of things I need to do in the next few months of getting settled into Carlisle. So for sanity's sake, I'll say this starts July 1 and then runs 60 days until September 1.
1. Finish all my paperwork -- I've gotten my license & my library card, but I still need to handle some other things with my car and ensure my health insurance is in order.
2. Try to find a church -- I've been putting this off because I keep having company on the weekends, but it's getting honestly depressing not having any social interaction, so this is important for me.
3. Find a volunteer opportunity -- I know Habitat for Humanity runs Saturdays and some Mondays, but even if it's not HFH, I need to find somewhere to regularly contribute my time, because I have too much of it and nothing to fill it with.
4. Re-pot my plants and decide if I'm going to grow anything this summer -- Because honestly, this is getting ridiculous. I've lived in my apartment for four weeks and I just walk past the huge bag of potting soil every time I go up and down the stairs. I also think this should include beautifying my courtyard, because it's a little bit of a sad sight right now.
5. Find the farmers market in town and commit to going there -- I've stepped away from Walmart because shopping at Giant is just a less stressful, happier experience. But I'd really like to support more of the local agriculture and maybe delve into farmers market meats & eggs. But I keep procrastinating on it, as I seem to do with everything else on this list.
6. Buy handweights and commit to working out at home for at least four weeks to see if joining the YMCA is a good idea -- I told myself that I would try to do a home gym for the first few months while my finances settled before I decided on joining the YMCA. And, I know dumbbells are less than six bucks at TJ Maxx. Again, I tend to procrastinate.
So ideally by August 1, but definitely by September 1, I'd like to get all these things done.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Updating early.
Usually I update on Sundays, but I'm feeling a little haughty on all I've accomplished this week (as in, a whole THREE things instead of the usual one), so I'm in the mood to update now. Since I don't think anyone reads this regularly anyway, I don't think I'll get any complaints. Ah, the writings of a self-indulgent & prideful young adult that nobody reads. Wonderful.
7. Watch all movies on AFI's Top 100 (26/100) - in progress
I just finished watching "All the President's Men," which was about the two journalists who uncovered the Watergate scandal. It was long, and not particularly thrilling, but it was also fun to watch because in some ways, their newsroom reminded me of our newsroom at work. And by "some ways," I mean they had a budget meeting to decide what stories were important enough for the front & what would go inside, as do we. As does every single publication worldwide. Oh well.
8. Read 50 books (39/50) - in progress
I finished "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" this week. I didn't realize until I was about halfway through that it was about real people & events, rather than being a novel. Some chapters were interesting and I couldn't put it down, but it took me some endurance to get through other parts. Then I read "Freakonomics" on Friday, which I liked and also felt unsatisfied by. It was interesting and compelling and I read it in one day, but I don't feel like I walked away from the book with any real knowledge or a grand desire to read the co-authors' second book, Super-Freakonomics. I also think I do a real disservice to any book by reading it in a day only because I have nothing better to do (which is how it happened), because I end up powering through and starting to skim instead of taking time to enjoy reading.
25. Cook 52 new recipes and organize them in one place (27/52) - in progress
I made a taco recipe on Wednesday with tofu, and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. It was my first foray into tofu, so I may have to get used to it / be cooking it wrong / like it better in a different recipe. But it was tofu and corn and spinach and goat cheese and salsa, all wrapped up in a tortilla. I liked the goat cheese a lot -- gave it a nice, salty tang. And I keep eating the leftovers for dinner, so they can't be terrible. The tofu just has a somewhat soft, definitely-not-meat feel to it. Almost like eggs, to be honest. And I'm just not sure that's how tofu is supposed to be.
30. Use my library card to take out 25 books (11/25) - in progress
The library is such a wonderful invention. I walked down and applied for my card on Friday (with my fancy new Pennsylvania license, might I add) and took out three books -- Freakonomics, A Year of Living Biblically, and Buyology. I've gotten really into learning recently, with nonfiction books and CNBC and things like that, so the library seems to have a good selection of nonfiction. Their DVD selection is a bit lacking though :/ I might pop over to Newville sometime this week and see if theirs is any better.
Didn't exercise this week (at all... oops?) but I did send a card -- actually, I don't think I said anything about it, but I sent two cards last week for birthdays. I need to be better about sending them for no reason.
-- Till next time.
7. Watch all movies on AFI's Top 100 (26/100) - in progress
I just finished watching "All the President's Men," which was about the two journalists who uncovered the Watergate scandal. It was long, and not particularly thrilling, but it was also fun to watch because in some ways, their newsroom reminded me of our newsroom at work. And by "some ways," I mean they had a budget meeting to decide what stories were important enough for the front & what would go inside, as do we. As does every single publication worldwide. Oh well.
8. Read 50 books (39/50) - in progress
I finished "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" this week. I didn't realize until I was about halfway through that it was about real people & events, rather than being a novel. Some chapters were interesting and I couldn't put it down, but it took me some endurance to get through other parts. Then I read "Freakonomics" on Friday, which I liked and also felt unsatisfied by. It was interesting and compelling and I read it in one day, but I don't feel like I walked away from the book with any real knowledge or a grand desire to read the co-authors' second book, Super-Freakonomics. I also think I do a real disservice to any book by reading it in a day only because I have nothing better to do (which is how it happened), because I end up powering through and starting to skim instead of taking time to enjoy reading.
25. Cook 52 new recipes and organize them in one place (27/52) - in progress
I made a taco recipe on Wednesday with tofu, and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. It was my first foray into tofu, so I may have to get used to it / be cooking it wrong / like it better in a different recipe. But it was tofu and corn and spinach and goat cheese and salsa, all wrapped up in a tortilla. I liked the goat cheese a lot -- gave it a nice, salty tang. And I keep eating the leftovers for dinner, so they can't be terrible. The tofu just has a somewhat soft, definitely-not-meat feel to it. Almost like eggs, to be honest. And I'm just not sure that's how tofu is supposed to be.
30. Use my library card to take out 25 books (11/25) - in progress
The library is such a wonderful invention. I walked down and applied for my card on Friday (with my fancy new Pennsylvania license, might I add) and took out three books -- Freakonomics, A Year of Living Biblically, and Buyology. I've gotten really into learning recently, with nonfiction books and CNBC and things like that, so the library seems to have a good selection of nonfiction. Their DVD selection is a bit lacking though :/ I might pop over to Newville sometime this week and see if theirs is any better.
Didn't exercise this week (at all... oops?) but I did send a card -- actually, I don't think I said anything about it, but I sent two cards last week for birthdays. I need to be better about sending them for no reason.
-- Till next time.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Things I've done this week...
It's really only exercise. I've been thinking that on my days off I should be cooking more real meals, but I ate out Friday and Saturday of this week, and I'm not very motivated to cook some elaborate meal before I go into work during the week. And by elaborate meal, I mean not eggs.
But, I exercised with two OnDemand programs Sunday & Monday, and I went hiking yesterday in Kings Gap State Park, so (32/143) weeks. I'm about halfway through "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," but it's been a little bit of slow going.
We'll see if I'm motivated to be a productive individual this week...
-- Till next time.
But, I exercised with two OnDemand programs Sunday & Monday, and I went hiking yesterday in Kings Gap State Park, so (32/143) weeks. I'm about halfway through "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," but it's been a little bit of slow going.
We'll see if I'm motivated to be a productive individual this week...
-- Till next time.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Rain all day and I don't care
Carlisle is one funny place. I think it's been sunny maybe three days since I moved here, and the past few weeks it has downpoured almost every other day, if not every day. Sometimes it's scary, like the thunderstorm yesterday when my power flickered. But sometimes it's soothing, like right now.
8. Read 50 books (37/50) - in progress
I found the most wonderful place in New Cumberland to buy books. It's a used book sale connected with their library, and it's massive. I bought "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson, which I finished reading last week, and "White Oleander" by Janet Fitch, which I finished last night. I liked Bryson's book, which was about thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, but I also felt cheated when I realized halfway through that he didn't actually hike the whole thing. Be upfront about your failures, Bill. "White Oleander" was good too, although it took me a bit to get into. By the middle though, I stayed up way too late Friday night because I kept telling myself, "Just one more chapter."
97. Added April 19, 2010: Journal every prompt from www.journalingprompts.com, one a day, for 365 days - in progress
This is harder than I thought it would be, to motivate myself to write every day. I've had a few days where I've sat down and had to play catch up by writing three prompts. Not sure I'm so excited about this one, but I guess we'll see as it goes on.
And that's all I've accomplished in the past two weeks, which is pathetic. The last time I exercised was the last time I posted, unless you count a few meandering walks around downtown. I have been having real trouble motivating myself to be a productive individual, and I watch entirely too much TV. So we'll see how this next week goes.
8. Read 50 books (37/50) - in progress
I found the most wonderful place in New Cumberland to buy books. It's a used book sale connected with their library, and it's massive. I bought "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson, which I finished reading last week, and "White Oleander" by Janet Fitch, which I finished last night. I liked Bryson's book, which was about thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, but I also felt cheated when I realized halfway through that he didn't actually hike the whole thing. Be upfront about your failures, Bill. "White Oleander" was good too, although it took me a bit to get into. By the middle though, I stayed up way too late Friday night because I kept telling myself, "Just one more chapter."
97. Added April 19, 2010: Journal every prompt from www.journalingprompts.com, one a day, for 365 days - in progress
This is harder than I thought it would be, to motivate myself to write every day. I've had a few days where I've sat down and had to play catch up by writing three prompts. Not sure I'm so excited about this one, but I guess we'll see as it goes on.
And that's all I've accomplished in the past two weeks, which is pathetic. The last time I exercised was the last time I posted, unless you count a few meandering walks around downtown. I have been having real trouble motivating myself to be a productive individual, and I watch entirely too much TV. So we'll see how this next week goes.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
My new apartment!
I did not faithfully update on Sunday because my new apartment does not have internet yet... I'm able to get a few bars borrowing (presumably) off my neighbors between the hours of 10:20 p.m. and 10:40 p.m., but it's always a guessing game as to how long that will last, and if I will ever get beyond one bar. So, imagine my surprise when I tried today at 2:30 and I have three bars! I think the gods are smiling upon me because I exercised today. Good karma all around.
38. Go to the White Elephant or similar flea market at least twice a summer (4/6) - in progress
I went with my family this weekend to the farmers market at Williams Grove Speedway, and it was absolutely enormous. I've been a little lethargic recently (I hope I'm using that correctly), as in I found a fabulous kitchen table in great shape and an appropriate size & price for my apartment, but it was so darn hot, even at 9 a.m., that I grumbled and whined that I didn't care, because I didn't want to carry it. But my mom talked me into it (thanks, Mom), and then my dad did most of the heavily lifting anyway (thanks, Dad).
51. Furnish my apartment solely through thrift stores & giveaways - accomplished
I think so, anyway. My parents sprung for a new mattress for me so I would still have a bed at home if I wanted to visit, but every single one of my big furniture piece was from a tag sale, flea market, or Andrea :) Which, I haven't told her yet, but she asked that my dresser be named Mark, after Mark Wahlberg (of course), and the dresser turned out to be my dad's (also named Mark) arch nemesis, because that thing would not fit up the stairs. It's currently in my dining room, masquerading as a linen buffet... but it really holds my winter clothes.
Because the dresser did not fit upstairs, and also because I plan poorly, we ended up buying a wooden organizer from Lowes for some of my clothes, and a TV stand from Walmart for downstairs. So, OK, I bought three brand-new things for my apartment. But I thrifted four things, got one for free, and brought ten from home / Sunchase. Pretty good, I say.
56. Exercise 2-3 times a week (31/143) - in progress
I think this was successful last week -- I think I used the hotel gym once, and then moving on Saturday was enough workout for me for years. Also, as it turns out, my legs get a nice workout every time I go up and down the stairs, which -- as it turns out -- is an average of two times a minute between my forgetful tendencies.
97. Added April 19, 2010: Journal every prompt from www.journalingprompts.com, one a day, for 365 days - in progress
Started this yesterday, June 1, so I'm on my way. I think this will be interesting for me to power through, because some of the prompts are easy to brainstorm right away, and some of them seem too philosophical. My prompt last night took me a page of rambling before I really began to write what I wanted.
-- Till next time.
38. Go to the White Elephant or similar flea market at least twice a summer (4/6) - in progress
I went with my family this weekend to the farmers market at Williams Grove Speedway, and it was absolutely enormous. I've been a little lethargic recently (I hope I'm using that correctly), as in I found a fabulous kitchen table in great shape and an appropriate size & price for my apartment, but it was so darn hot, even at 9 a.m., that I grumbled and whined that I didn't care, because I didn't want to carry it. But my mom talked me into it (thanks, Mom), and then my dad did most of the heavily lifting anyway (thanks, Dad).
51. Furnish my apartment solely through thrift stores & giveaways - accomplished
I think so, anyway. My parents sprung for a new mattress for me so I would still have a bed at home if I wanted to visit, but every single one of my big furniture piece was from a tag sale, flea market, or Andrea :) Which, I haven't told her yet, but she asked that my dresser be named Mark, after Mark Wahlberg (of course), and the dresser turned out to be my dad's (also named Mark) arch nemesis, because that thing would not fit up the stairs. It's currently in my dining room, masquerading as a linen buffet... but it really holds my winter clothes.
Because the dresser did not fit upstairs, and also because I plan poorly, we ended up buying a wooden organizer from Lowes for some of my clothes, and a TV stand from Walmart for downstairs. So, OK, I bought three brand-new things for my apartment. But I thrifted four things, got one for free, and brought ten from home / Sunchase. Pretty good, I say.
56. Exercise 2-3 times a week (31/143) - in progress
I think this was successful last week -- I think I used the hotel gym once, and then moving on Saturday was enough workout for me for years. Also, as it turns out, my legs get a nice workout every time I go up and down the stairs, which -- as it turns out -- is an average of two times a minute between my forgetful tendencies.
97. Added April 19, 2010: Journal every prompt from www.journalingprompts.com, one a day, for 365 days - in progress
Started this yesterday, June 1, so I'm on my way. I think this will be interesting for me to power through, because some of the prompts are easy to brainstorm right away, and some of them seem too philosophical. My prompt last night took me a page of rambling before I really began to write what I wanted.
-- Till next time.
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